Combination fountain and bird bath



June 18, 1935 F. THOMSON 2,005,602 7 COMBINATION FOUNTAIN AND BIRD BATH Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llil llllll" June 18, 1935. F. THOMSON 2,905,6U2

V COMBINATION FOUNTAIN AND BIRD BATH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Ma 28, 1954 l/VVE/Y TOE: WWI f i /Wmgzifww Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to home beautifying devices, and provides a device of this character embodying an electrically illuminated fountain that is adapted to be used as a bird bath as well.

It is an object of the invention that the same be permanently located within the grounds of a home in a suitable location and which will add much to the attractiveness of the grounds at all times during the day, and particularly at night when the reflection of various colors are electrically cast upon the-upward flow of water; causing thereby an unusually attractive scene.

The invention possesses further advantages, all of which will become readily apparent during the course of the following detailed description, illustrated throughout the accompanying drawings, and more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the complete invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the lower portion of the device turned at 90 degrees from that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional portion of the device.

Figure 4 is a partial view of the top portion of the umbrella.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the umbrella, broken as indicated and exposing the lighting arrangement.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken directly upon line 6-45 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken directly upon line l-l of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an elevation taken at the position of line li -8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a reduced sectional View taken upon line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a section taken upon line Iii-IE] of Figure l.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring arrangement of the device.

The invention comprises bowl l which is of the'formation as shown and the water therein as at 2. Said bowl being rigidly supported by vertically arranged tube 3 and saidtube threadedly engaging hub 4, which forms a support for the device by virtue of legs 5 being permanently secured to said hub in. the manner as indicated.

Within bowl I boxB is provided and is permanently secured to said bowl where shown and having open bottom as at I. An additional box 8 is provided and is permanently secured to the View of the extreme top top of box 6 in the manner as indicated in Figure 6. The purpose of boxes 6 and 8 is to form an adequate support for the pair of metal doll images 9 and it is seen that the feet of said images are secured to box 8 in an erect position. Arms 9A of said images being secured to vertically arranged pipe id and the remaining arms having the appearance of holding spouts 98 respectively. Referring particularly to Figure 1 it is observed that metal umbrella I l is provided which is supported 10 by the customary staves l2 and being secured to pipe l0 as shown.

Spider-like frame 53 is provided and is secured within umbrella H and pipe ill, which is more clearly seen in Figure 5 and providing sockets 15 for an equal number of incandescent lamps I4, and said lamps being arranged in circumferential formation as shown. Directly over each of said lamps is opening 15 within umbrella II and said openings being covered from the inside of said umbrella by glass I6 which is supported by frame H, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

Referring to Figure 2 it is understood that pipe Ill is within tube 3, is deflected and passes out- 2 wardly from said tube and is provided with a threaded end so as to accommodate garden hose connection Hi, to which is connected hose l9. In this manner the water from the service line of the home is received into pipe H3 at this position and the pressure of the water being controlled at will by the customary faucet for this purpose. The water then has an uninterrupted passage upwardly through pipe ill and out through perforated cap 20 which threadedly engages same as indicated.

Referring again to Figure 1 it is also observed that tube 2i passes through each of the images 9, one end of said tubes being connected to pipe it and the opposite end thereof having outlet at the respective spouts 9B. In this manner it is understood that as the water flows upward through pipe I0 the pressure will naturally cause a certain amount of water to flow through tubes 2i and upward through spouts 93 as indicated by the arrows in this view. In order to prevent the water from said spouts from spraying upon lamps, l4, transparent shield 22 is provided and secured to pipe I0 where indicated.

A suitable conduit 23 is provided for the wires 5 of lamps l4 and which is enclosed within tube 3 for this purpose.

A decidedly important advantage of the invention is the automatically operated rotating electric switch. In Figures 1 and 2 it is seen that vertically arranged overflow pipe 24 is provided and which has shut-off valve 25 where shown. As the water in bowl I rises to the level of pipe 24 it will naturally flow down said pipe and be discharged therefrom at 2 3A, thence directly upon water mill 26 and driving same in direction of the arrow in Figure 2, said mill being journaled within housing 21', and the water being finally discharged from said housing through spout 27A therein. In Figure i it is further seen that the upper end of tubeii is also on a level with the similar end of pipe 24, and which will perform as an overflow pipe as well, and discharging the water through L ZA of hub 45. Referring to Figure '7 it is understood that mill- 26 is keyed to transversely extending shaft 28 and the opposite end of said shaft rotatably passing through switch box 28, and it is understood that housing 2'? and box 29 are integral and are secured to tube 3 by screws 38.

Referring particularly to Figure 8 it is observed that box 29 is provided with hinged door 3! and with the customary catch therefor. Within box 29 is plate 32 which is composed of a suitable insulating material and is secured to the back of said box by screws 33. Said plate supports the terminals for the wires of lamps I4 and also the commutator for the device. Said commutator comprising crank 34 which is keyed to shaft 23 and is provided with the customary brush which is adapted to contact segmental plate 35 and said plate being secured to insulating plate 32. The purpose of segmental plate and the electric circuits will be presently explained.

It is further seen that the customary electric socket 3B and plug therefor 37 are provided for connecting the electric circuit of the device with the electric circuit of the home or building.

The details of construction of the invention having been completely set forth during the preceding paragraphs, the clear operation and primary intent thereof follows:

Referring to Figure 8 it is clear that segmental plate 35 is provided with three separate contact surfaces, and as there are seven of the lamps l4 provided, one of said surfaces is'wired for a circuit controlling three of said lamps and glass 16 for example, over each of said three lamps is colored red. Threeother of lamps I are wired to the next consecutive contact surface of plate 35,'and glass I5 over each 'of the second-mentioned group of three lamps is colored green. The remainder of lamps it are wired to the remaining of the contact surfaces of plate 35 and glass I 6 over the last-named lamps is colored amber.

It is understood how the water is received upwardly through pipe id and out through perforated cap 20 which will forward a spray of water upward and down upon umbrella H as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, thence draining to within bowl i and as the water reaches the level of the top end of tube 3 and overflow pipe 24 the same will naturally flow downward and out through L 3A, and the amount of water limited by the capacity of pipe 24 will flow therethrough and out of end Z -iA thereof, thence directly down upon water mill 26 and rotating same in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2. InFigure '7 it is seen that mill 26 is keyed to shaft 28 and the opposite end of said shaft having connection with the commutator in box 29, consequently as the brush of lever (M of said commutator is rotated by said mill the respective group arrange ments of lamps I l will be consecutively-illuminated and likewise the respective colors of glass 16 will reflect through openings [5 within umbrella H, namely red, green, then amber. Due to the particular location of openings l5 within inbrella I l the spray of water upon same will have the appearance of continually changing colors.

It is further understood that pebbles, rocks or the like may be placed within bowl I and arranged in an artistic manner and so as to appeal to the fowls of the air. v

It is also understood that while the entire device is metallic in nature, the same may be constructed of a combination metal and concrete, or in factit may be made almost entirely of concrete or a similar plastic out-door formula. For the concrete type of construction the stand for the device may be permanently embedded in a concrete foundation, if preferred that the device shall remain in a permanent location.

While therein is disclosed a single embodiment of the invention the same would nevertheless be 7 subject to certain minor changes in the details of construction and design thereof if this condition presents itself during any probable further development for the market, however in any eventuality a departure from the general principle involved, would be consistently avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a fountain of the class defined, a bowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, the upper end of said tube extending within said bowl to such a point as to form an overflow for water in said bowl, a hub with legs attached thereto, the lower end of said tube threadedly engaging said hub, a water outlet secured to the bottom of said hub.

2. In a fountain of the class defined, a bowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, a vertically arranged pipe within said tube for receiving water for the device, a box within the center'of said bowl and secured thereto in this position, an

additional box secured upon the top of the firstnamed box, a pair of doll images disposed in standing position upon and secured to the lastnamed box, a tube passing through the bodies and arms of said images and connected to aforesaid pipe, a spout so formed within the hand of one of the arms of both images as to connect with said tube and to direct water upwardly therefrom.

3. In a fountain of the class defined, a bowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, an umbrella, a vertically arranged pipe within said tube and supporting said umbrella, a spider-like frame, said frame secured to said pipe and within said umbrella, a plurality of circumferentially arranged sockets adapted to receive respective incandescent lamps, a conduit extending through aforesaid tube for the accommodation of electric wires connecting said lamps with an electric switch secured to the lower portion of said tube.

' i. In a fountain of the class defined, a bowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, an umbrella, and means for spraying water upon same, a vertically arranged pipe within said tube, a spider-like frame, said frame secured to said pipe and within said umbrella and having a plurality of circumferentially arranged sockets adapted to receive incandescent lamps respectively, a colored glass inclosed opening within the aforesaid umbrella and directly over each of said lamps, so as to cast reflection of colored lights upon the spraying water upon said umbrella aforesaid.

5. In a fountain of the class definedabowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, means within said tube whereby water is admitted to the device and to descend to within said bowl, a vertically arranged overflow pipe with the upper end thereof disposed within said bowl and extending downwardly and being provided with a shut-off valve, a water mill and housing therefor, the discharge end of said overflow pipe being so disposed over said water mill that the water therefrom will rotate said mill, and the mill being keyed to a transversely extending shaft, the opposite end of said shaft having connection with a' commutator, a housing for said commutator, the first and last-named housing being integral and secured to the aforesaid tube, said commutator being in combination with an electric circuit for the device whereby the rotating movement of said water mill will actuate the commutator in making and breaking a circuit for variable lighting effect for the device.

6. In a fountain of the class defined, a bowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, a vertically arranged pipe within said tube, an umbrella, said pipe adapted to support said umbrella, a box secured within the center of aforesaid bowl, an additional box secured to the top of the firstnamed box, a pair of doll images upon the top of the last-named box, said images having connection with the aforesaid pipe and means upon said images whereby water will flow through same and be directed upwardly toward the aforesaid umbrella.

'7. In a fountain of the class defined, a bowl supported by a vertically arranged tube, a vertically arranged pipe within said tube, an umbrella, said pipe supporting said umbrella above the bowl and means for discharging water from said pipe to within the bowl, the combination with an electric circuit having a switch controlling three separate circuits, the further combination of a series of incandescent lamps positioned within aforesaid umbrella and arranged so as to be controlled by the corresponding respective circuits for consecutive lighting, means for supporting said lamps, means within said umbrella whereby said lamps are adapted to reflect variable colored light upon the water flowing upon the aforesaid umbrella, a pair of doll images disposed within the aforesaid bowl and means for supporting the same in this position, also means within said images for permitting a double spray of water therefrom and directed upwardly toward said umbrella, a transparent shield secured to aforesaid pipe and above said images for preventing the spray of water from being directed upon said lamps, a water mill and housing therefor, also a box for aforesaid switch, said housing and box being integral and secured to aforesaid tube, said mill keyed to a transversely extending shaft, the opposite end of said shaft being keyed to the switch, means within aforesaid bowl whereby the overflow of water therein will automatically rotate said water mill and simultaneously actuate the said commutator switch of the device.

FREDERICK THOMSON. 

